From:
maja.conc@volja.net
Date: 2004-11-03 20:41:38 UTC
Subject: RE: Safety with other pets
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <2133207.1099514498122.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
hi, I am (a proud :-) ) owner of three ferrets and one big dog. Spela is a labrador great dane mix bitch (hope I spelled it right). First we had one girl ferret and at her age of little less then three years we adopted Spela from the shelter (in february).
At their first contacts we weren't exactly happy... Spela was so eager about the ferret girl and wanted to sniff her from head to tail and Kuna (tough 100x smaller and lighter) wasn't not nearly afraid of her and attacked every time dog aproached.
When Kuna was in her cage, SPela was barking at her and schratched on the cage. So we "invented" schedule - when and where each of them could be.
Of course it didn't took long that Kuna slipped in between my boyfriend's legs right to the room where the dog was. Attacked the dog - right in the nose (i was soooo afraid what the dog will do) and hid under the closet.
In next few weeks Spela was affraid of little ferret as hell. We were working on socialization really hard, but slowly. I held the ferret and my boyfriend took care of the dog. In a bit of time we came so far, that I was able to have both in the same room, but with eyes fixed on ferret. It was also better with time and when we were at home, they could both be in the same room without any conflict.
When we in august adopted two more ferrets (they were abandoned and pretty wild and agressive, especialy the girl), Spela and Kuna became the best firends.
With the newbies the story was following. Since Spela was already accustomed with ferrets, she knew what she can expect. With the young albino boy she can get along really cool. Actualy she is pretty much in love with him. She plays so gentle with him, rolls him with her mouth and they chase (in circles) each other on the couch.
With Tidra - the other girl - it is harder stuff. The girl was pretty agressive (also toward humans and Kuna), but she calmed recently and I am slowly making integration with the dog. This will be a bit longer process, because i can never know what little devil has in her mind.
With the pup you'll have to be carefull. Make sure, that ferret won't bite the puppy to hard - it can leave bad memories in pups mind... And of course make sure, that the pup (tough extra small breed dog)won't hurt the ferret in a game. Don't let (at least at first) the pup to cahes th ferret and allways have them under control.
maja
you can see some pics of my little zoo here: http://tabla.xenya.si/gallery/Spela
and here: http://tabla.xenya.si/gallery/gulo-in-tidra